July/August 2009 Alternative Health
Holy Trinity of Juices

by Jennifer Cox

The next time you find yourself standing in the juice aisle unsure of what to buy, remember the holy trinity of fruit and vegetable juices: beet, tart cherry and pomegranate. These juices not only taste good, but they also help in fighting certain types of infection, combating fatigue from exercise and protecting your vascular system.

Beet Juice

Beet juice is high in dietary nitrate and increases the amount of nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide helps blood vessels relax, lowering blood pressure. It also has anti-inflammatory activity and discourages blood-clot formation.

Tart Cherry Juice

Drinking tart cherry juice before and after strenuous exercise may ease the pain of sore muscles, according to a study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of tart cherry juice may help reduce muscle soreness and fatigue.

Pomegranate Juice

The antioxidant giant of the trinity of juices, pomegranate juice is conventionally known as being good for your heart. For the ancient Chinese, pomegranate seeds symbolized longevity and immortality. According to the Journal of Chinese Medicine, recent studies have found additional health properties of this juice. Based on its antiseptic and disinfectant properties, researchers found that pomegranate juice has antibacterial properties in fighting staph and E. coli bacteria.

Researchers also have found that the use of pomegranate juice may help slow the return of certain cancers after surgery and chemotherapy. For postmenopausal women, pomegranate juice has been shown as effective in treating bone loss.

Sources: www.peoplespharmacy.com, British Journal of Sports Medicine at bjsm.bmj.com and Journal of Chinese Medicine at www.cjmed.net.